Femoral nerve damage

[Samantha1991]

Hi all

I have femoral nerve damage as a complication from heart surgery in 2017, and have been living with chronic pain ever since.

Any tips on how I can get more than 4 hours sleep a night or to make myself more comfortable? I take 8+ codeine a day, have nytol as well at night along with a cbd liquid, but nothing helps! Any advice would be greatly appreciated xx

[etheral]

Drugs more specific for neuropathic pain such as Lyrica ( pregabilin) may be helpful.Gabepentin , Nerontin falling this class. Tolerability and efficacy may vary greatly. Tricyclic antidepressants such as Amytriptolene may prove helpful. Narcotics including codeine have been shown to be relatively inefficatious for for neuropathic pain. If you do switch or add another drug make sure you taper off the codeine slowly. A referral to a pain clinic would be most appropriate.

[Samantha1991 in reply to etheral]

Hey,

I’ve been to a pain clinic, and had 3 unsuccessful nerve blocks. I’ve also been on gabapentin, pregabalin, nortriptyline, and tramadol.

Codeine is the only thing that takes the edge off but even then it’s really bad.

Sam x

[Konagirl60 in reply to etheral]

This is correct. Wean yourself slowly off of the codeine.

[Samantha1991 in reply to Konagirl60]

Wean myself off of the codeine to then be on nothing? I’d literally want to die with the amount of pain I’d be in!

[Konagirl60 in reply to Samantha1991]

No, while you’re taking another pain med.

[Samantha1991 in reply to Konagirl60]

Would be lovely if there was one that I haven’t tried and worked

[Konagirl60 in reply to Samantha1991]

Have you tried Compounded Ketamine pills? I use 30mg pills twice a day.

[Imdone]

I had something similar due to nerve damage linked to a spine injury. I was on maximum dose of codeine until it began to damage my stomach. I was put on nortryptiline which I take in the evening, it has helped and my sleeping has improved. I also take pramipexole for restless legs and slow release morphine for the spinal cord injury.

[christine71]

sorry to hear that I have similar 2008 I had thoracic surgery to remove a tumour left me chronic pain had neve blocks gabepentine tramadol amytriptolene pregabalin patches list goes on I found I can only sleep on an camping blow up mattress not fully inflated on top of my normal mattress have been ever since its what you find that suits you tried memory foam did not work electric ajustable bed no good I take it with me if we go on holiday or stay some where else its been 12 long years its trial an error keep safe and take care I know how bad it can get sending you all the very best

[christine71]

just meant to add get your b12 checked for P.A this can cause nerve damage and vitamin D

[morphalot]

Hi. - it's been proven that a lot of the painkillers you are trying are not suitable for chronic pain. I would seek a referral to a better pain management organisation as there are much better treatments than medication. I went to pain management at st Thomas hospital in London, and have recently been attending InHealth Pain management which, I believe, operate all round the country, and found both st Thomas and in health very good. I'm really surprised at pain management trying to give you drugs when most of them will sort you to come off the drugs and manage your pain in different ways.